Adjustable rail brace apparatus



Aug. 30, 1966 R. M. FREY 3,269,655

ADJUSTABLE RAIL BRACE APPARATUS Filed April 13, 1964 United States Patent O 3,269,655 ADJUSTABLE RAHL BRACE APPARATUS Russel M. Frey, Marysville, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Bethlehem Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 359,304 Claims. (Cl. 23S-292) This invention relates generally to apparatus for bracing and securing railway rails, and specifically to an adjustable apparatus for bracing and securing to tie plates running or guard rails associated with railways.

In railway track construction, the rails must be readily attachable and detachable with respect to .the tie plates while at the same time the rails must be firmly braced and secured to the tie plates a-t all times while they are in use. It is often required to brace Vand secure guard rails to the tie plates in such manner that the said guard rails can be placed between the rail brace and a chock, and can be removed from between the rail brace and the chock, all in a generally Vertical direction without the necessity for twisting the rail to clear the chock and rail brace. At switches, the running rail must be braced and secured to the tie plate on that side of the running rail opposite the switch point. The present invention is directed to adjustable rail brace apparatus which meets all of t-he foregoing requirements.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide rail brace apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide adjustable rail brace apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide adjustable rail brace apparatus which firmly braces and secures to a tie plate a railway rail and which permits the rail to be placed into position between a chock and the rail brace, and to be removed from between the chock and the rail brace, all in a generally vertical direction without the necessity for twisting the rail to clear the chock and the rail brace.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide adjustable rail brace apparatus which is of simple, yet serviceable construction.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description and by reference to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals represent like parts in the several views:

FIGURE 1 represents a view in plan of the invention, showing the adjustable rail brace applied to a guard rail.

FIGURE 2 represents a view in elevation of the adjustable rail brace, taken along the line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 represents a view in elevation of Ithe adustable rail brace, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG- U-RE 1.

FIGURE 4 represents a medial section in elevation of the brace element.

FIGURE 5 represents a View in plan of the tie plate.

FIGURE 6 represents a section in elevation of the tie plate taken along the line 6--6 of FIGURE 5 and showing the tie plate slot.

Running rail 1 and guard rail 2 are mounted in recessed seats 3 and 4, respectively, of metal tie plate 5,

Athe latter being provided with spike holes 6 for use in Patented August 30, 1966 "ice the customary manner to secure said metal tie plate 5 to a wooden tie 6a, and choc-k 7 being inserted between the said rails 1 and 2 to maintain the desired flangeway therebetween as is known in the art.

face 8 horizontally spaced from, and parallel to, guard rail 2. 'Ihe lower portion of Vertical wedging face 8 is Metal tie plate 5 is provided with a vertical wedging defined, in the preferred embodiment, by one wall of recessed seat 4, and the upper portion of vertical wedging face 8 is defined, in the preferred embodiment, by block 9 secu-red in suitable fashion (e.g., weld-ing) to the said metal tie plate 5.

Slot 10 is provided in metal tie plate 5, perpendicular -to guard rail 2. As shown in FIGURES 2, 5 and 6, shoulders 1v1 in the upper portion of slot 10 extend inwardly to define internal abutments 12, a clear aperture 13 without said internal abutments 12 being provided in the central portion of said slot 10.

In the preferred embodiment, adjustable rail brace 14 is located on that side of guard rail 2 opposite chock 7, and is adapted to brace guard rail 2 against laterally directed forces proceeding from left to right of FIG- URES 1 rand 2, as well as to secure guard rail 2 to metal tie -plate 5.

Adjustable rail brace 14 comprises, in addition to the said slot 10 with internal abu-tments 12 defined by shoulders -11 and with clear aperture 13 as provided in metal tie plate 5, brace element 15 and wedge element 16.

Brace element 15 is defined by side walls 17 and 118, rail engaging portion 19, and base portion 20. It will be noted that, as Viewed in plan (FIGURE 1), brace element 15 is tapered, the rear edge of base portion 20 being inclined in a horizontal plane relative to guard rail 2. Rail engaging portion 19 is preferably formed as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, engaging the guard rail 2 at two vertically spaced points, whereby to allow some clearance for branding or lettering in relief on the web of guard rail 2. Slot 2|1 is provided in base portion 20, and extends perpendicularly to guard rail 2 when said brace element 15 is in position. Brace element 15 is slidably mounted to met-al tie plate 5, for adjustment towards or away from guard rail 2 in a direction perpendicular lto said guard rail 2, by means of bol-t 22, spring was-her 2,3 and nut 24, the head 25 of said bolt 22 being passed through clear aperture 113 of slot 10 and then shifted laterally so as to ride under internal abutments 12, the said head 25 being drawn up against internal abutments 12 when nut 24 is screwed down and tightened on bolt 22.

Wedge element 16 is tapered, as shown in FIGURE l. and has sides 26 and 27 which, when wedge element 16 is inserted between brace element 15 and vertical wedging face 8 to force brace element 15 into engagement with guard rail 2, are adapted to engage the rear edge of base portion 20 and vertical wedging face 8 respectively. Slot 28 is provided in wedge element 16. With the parts of the preferred embodiment assembled, slot 2S is parallel to guard rail 2 and to vertical wedging face 8, and side 26 is parallel to the rear edge of base portion 20. Flange 29 is provided on wedge element 16, adjacent side 26, and is adapted to extend over the rear edge of base portion 20 of brace element 15. Wedge element 16 is slidably mounted to metal tie plate 5, for adjustment towards or away from guard rail 2 at an angle thereto in the preferred embodiment, by means of bolt 30, spring washer 31, and nut 32, the head 33 of said bolt 30 being passed through clear aperture 13 of slot and then shifted laterally so as to ride under internal abutments 12, the said head being drawn up against internal abutments 12 when nut 32 is screwed down and tightened on bolt 30.

In applying the adjustable rail brace 14 to the guard rail 2, after the latter has been placed in position with the chock 7 between the said guard rail 2 and running rail 1, bolts 22 and 30 are inserted head first through clear aperture 13 and are then shifted towards their respective ends of slot 10, their respective heads 25 and 33 riding under internal abutments 12 and over wooden tie 6a. Brace element 15 is then placed over bolt 22, so that the latter extends through slot 21; spring washer 23 is mounted on bolt 22, and nut 24 is screwed down only partially on bolt 22, so as to permit the brace element to be adjusted in position relative to guard rail 2. At this point, the said brace element 15 can manually be advanced to engage guard rail 2. Wedge element 16 is now placed over bolt 30 so that the latter extends through slot 28; spring washer 31 is mounted on bolt 30, and nut 32 may be screwed down only partially on bolt 30, so as to permit the wedge element 16 to be adjusted in position relative to brace element 15. At this point, the said wedge element 16 can manually be advanced to engage brace element 15 and vertical wedging face S. Thereafter, wedge element 16 is struck home, as on striking face 34, by means of a hammer, to force brace element 15 against guard rail 2. Nuts 24 and 32 are then tightened, drawing up heads 25 and 33 into engagement with internal abutments 12.

When it is desired to remove the guard rail 2, nuts 24 and 32 are loosened and may be removed. Wedge element 16 is driven in the opposite direction and may be lifted from metal tie plate 5 without shifting bolt 30 relative to guard rail 2. A recess 35 may be provided at the rear of base portion of brace element 15, of dimension suflicient to clear bolt and permit brace element 15 to be shifted sufficiently to the right of FIGURE 1 whereby rail engaging portion 19 can clear the head of guard rail 2 and brace element 15 can Abe lifted straight up. Although in the preferred embodiment this is not necessary, bolts 22 and 30 may if desired be shifted to the clear aperture 13 and withdrawn therethrough. The guard rail 2 is removed in a generally vertical direction, being shifted of course slightly to one side to clear chock 7. This can be done without twisting the guard rail 2, which makes the adjustable rail brace 14 particularly useful on curves.

Although the invention has been described herein in considerable detail, it is not to be limited to the exact and specific details thereof as shown and described, but may include such modifications, substitutions or equivalents thereof as are embraced within the scope of the invention or as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for bracing a rail, comprising:

(a) a tie plate supporting said rail,

(b) a vertical wedging face spaced from said rail and fixedly positioned relative to said tie plate,

(c) a first slot in said tie plate adjacent one side of said rail between said rail and said vertical wedging face, said first slot being horizontally elongated perpendicularly to said rail and having a first end and a second end,

(d) a clear aperture in the center of said first slot,

(e) shoulders in the upper portion of said first slot extending from both ends of said first slot tvards the clear aperture and restricting the width of said first slot, said shoulders defining internal abutments in said first slot,

(f) a brace element adapted to engage said rail,

(g) a second slot in said brace element, said second slot being horizontally elongated,

(h) a first bolt,

(i) a first head on said first bolt adapted to be inserted through said clear aperture and shifted toward said first end of said first slot to underlie said internal abutments,

(j) said first bolt extending through said second slot to slidably mount said brace element to said tie plate,

(k) a wedge element adapted to be inserted between said brace element and said vertical wedging face to force said brace element into engagement with said rail,

(l) a third slot in said wedge element, said third slot being horizontally elongated,

(m) a second bolt,

(n) a second head on said second bolt adapted to be inserted through said clear aperture and shifted toward said second end of said first slot to underlie lie said internal abutments,

(o) said second bolt extending through said third slot to slidably mount said wedge element to said tie plate,

(p) first and second nuts adapted to be screwed down on said first and second bolts respectively to draw up said rst and second ,heads respectively to engagement with said internal abutments to secure said brace element and said wedge element respectively to said tie plate.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, further including:

(q) a ange on said wedge element extending over at least a portion of said brace element.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1, further including:

(q) a recess in said brace element adapted `to register with said second bolt.

4. Apparatus for bracing a rail, comprising:

(a) a tie plate for supporting said rail,

(b) a vertical wedging face spaced from and parallel to said rail, said vertical wedging face being fixedly positioned relative to said tie plate,

(c) a first slot in said tie plate adjacent one side of said rail between said rail and said vertical wedging face, said first slot being horizontally elongated perpendicularly to said rail and having a first end and a second end,

(d) a clear aperture in the center of said first slot,

(e) shoulders in the upper portion of said first slot extending from both ends of said first slot towards the clear aperture and restricting the width of said first slot, said shoulders defining internal abutments in said first slot,

(f) a brace element having a rail engaging portion on a first edge thereof and having a second edge inclined horizontally at an acute angle relative to said rail,

(g) a second slot in said brace element, said second slot being horizontally elongated perpendicularly to said rail,

(h) a first bolt,

(i) a first head on said first bolt adapted to be inserted through said clear aperture and shifted toward said first end of said first slot towards said rail to underlie said internal abutments,

(j) said first bolt extending through said second slot to slidably mount said brace element to said tie plate,

(k) a tapered wedge element adapted to be inserted between said brace element and said vertical wedging face to force said brace element into engagement with said rail,

(l) a third slot in said tapered wedge element, said third slot being horizontally elongated in a direction parallel to said rail and said vertical wedging face,

(m) a second bolt,

(n) a second head on said second bolt adapted to be 5 6 inserted through said clear aperture and shifted tobrace element and said tapered wedge element reward said second end of said rst slot away from spectively to said tie plate. said rail to underlie said internal abutments, 5. Apparatus as in claim 4, further including: (o) said second bolt extending through said third slot (q) a recess in the second edge of said brace element to slidably mount said tapered Wedge element t0 5 adapted to register with said second bolt. said tie plate, (p) rst and second nuts adapted to be screwed down N0 references Cited on said first and second bolts respectively to draw up said first and second heads respectively to engage- ARTHUR L- LA POINT Prmary Exammement with said internal abutments to secure said 10 R, A BERTSCH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR BRACING A RAIL, COMPRISING: (A) A TIE PLATE SUPPORTING SAID RAIL, (B) A VERTICAL WEDGING FACE SPACED FROM SAID RAIL AND FIXEDLY POSITIONED RELATIVE TO SAID TIE PLATE, (C) A FIRST SLOT IN SAID TIE PLATE ADJACENT ONE SIDE OF SAID RAIL BETWEEN SAID RAILS AND SAID VERTICAL WEDGING FACE, SAID FIRST SLOT BEING HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED PERPENDICULARLY TO SAID RAIL AND HAVING A FIRST END AND A SECOND END, (D) A CLEAR APERTURE IN THE CENTER OF SAID FIRST SLOT, (E) SHOULDERS IN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID FIRST SLOT EXTENDING FROM BOTH ENDS OF SAID FIRST SLOT TOWARDS THE CLEAR APERTURE AND RESTRICTING THE WIDTH OF SAID FIRST SLOT, SAID SHOULDER DEFINING INTERNAL ABUTMENTS IN SAID FIRST SLOT, (F) A BRACE ELEMENT ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID RAIL, (G) A SECOND SLOT IN SAID BRACE ELEMENT, SAID SECOND SLOT BEING HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED, (H) A FIRST BOLT, (I) A FIRST HEAD ON SAID FIRST BOLT ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED THROUGH SAID CLEAR APERTURE AND SHIFTED TOWARD SAID FIRST END OF SAID FIRST SLOT TO UNDERLIE SAID INTERNAL ABUTMENTS, (J) SAID FIRST BOLT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SECOND SLOT TO SLIDABLY MOUNT SAID BRACE ELEMENT TO SAID TIE PLATE, (K) A WEDGE ELEMENT ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED BETWEEN SAID BRACE ELEMENT AND SAID VERTICAL WEDGING FACE TO FORCE SAID BRACE ELEMENT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RAIL, (L) A THIRD SLOT IN SAID WEDGE ELEMENT, SAID THIRD SLOT BEING HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED, (M) A SECOND BOLT, (N) A SECOND HEAD ON SAID SECOND BOLT ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED THROUGH SAID CLEAR APERTURE AND SHIFTED TOWARD SAID SECOND END OF SAID FIRST SLOT TO UNDERLIE LIE SAID INTERNAL ABUTMENTS, (O) SAID SECOND BOLT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID THIRD SLOT TO SLIDABLY MOUNT SAID WEDGE ELEMENT TO SAID TIE PLATE, (P) FIRST AND SECOND NUT ADAPTED TO BE SCREWED DOWN ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND BOLTS RESPECTIVELY TO DRAW UP SAID FIRST AND SECOND HEADS RESPECTIVELY TO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID INTERNAL ABUTMENTS TO SECURE SAID BRACE ELEMENT AND SAID WEDGE ELEMENT RESPECTIVELY TO SAID TIE PLATE. 